BIOS: Alexander MARKEL, Somerset, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 337/8 Alexander MARKEL. Alexander Markel, a blacksmith of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born August 6, 1850, the son of Leopold and Elizabeth (Wunch) Markel. Leopold Markel (father) was a native of Germany, born 1800, who emigrated from the Fatherland in 1832, settling in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Wunch) Markel, were the parents of the following named children: Ferdinand, Ringold, deceased; Caroline, deceased; Leopold, Frank, deceased; Samuel, deceased; William, deceased; Minna, Mary A., Samuel (2), deceased; Peter, deceased; and Alexander. Alexander Markel acquired his education in the common schools of Somerset county, and leaving school at the age of fourteen years, turned his attention to the trade of boiler-maker. After he finished this he learned the trade of blacksmith, in which he is very proficient. He is now working at this occupation, and makes a specialty of horse-shoeing. He is a stanch Republican in political relations, and served his township as assessor for seven years, constable three years, and tax collector two years. He and his family are Lutherans in religion. Alexander Markel married, October 30, 1877, Lucinda Ankney, who was born in Somerset county, June 14, 1852. She is of German descent, the daughter of David and Charlotte (Young) Ankney, and granddaughter of Jacob Ankney, who was born and reared in Somerset county, and a farmer by occupation. David Ankney (father) was born in 1807 in Somerset, was a farmer by occupation, and a Republican in politics. He and his wife, Charlotte (Young) Ankney, had children as follows: Catherine, deceased; Mary E., George A., Lydia, Jacob, Lucinda, Cyrus B., Sarah, Anna S., Lincoln, William H., and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Markel are the parents of the following named children: Bertha E., lives at home; Ada L., Charles L., deceased; Clayton E., and Martin L., who is a student at Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.